“It’s muddy.” Pa’s voice thinned, and he wobbled to his feet. “Poppy can’t play there.”
“It’s almost dried up. I’m going to get men to cut it for feed.”
For a moment, Pa’s mind cleared. “Guess we’re in need of rain.” And then confusion returned. “So long as Poppy doesn’t get all muddy.”
“Sit down, Pa.” Her touch gentle and kind, Kat nudged him back down.
They traveled along a narrow trail descending to the trees. Zach stopped the wagon, took the ax, and removed trees and brush enough to allow the wagon to pass. At times, there was enough room without clearing, and other times, he had to make a way. It made the trip take much longer than it had on horseback. The sun was high in the sky when they reached the clearing.
“Here we are.” He helped Pa down first, afraid the man would try jumping over the side of the wagon.
Kat didn’t wait for help, but Amelia did, clinging to his hand as she stepped to the rough ground. She scooped up Poppy and glanced around.
“It’s a lovely spot,” Amelia observed. “So green and cool.”
Kat brought a hand to shield her eyes. “I’ve been here before.”
“With Pa?”
“Nope. On my own. On one of my adventures.” Her airy words did nothing to ease Zach’s shudder. The girl was going to get herself into trouble riding around the country alone, although he’d never worried about it before Sobel’s arrival.
He grunted under his breath. Why was he letting Sobel invade his every thought?
“Let’s explore.” He left the lunch things in the wagon and led the way toward the tiger lilies. It would have been lovely to show them to no one but Amelia, but that wasn’t possible.
He parted the reeds and stepped aside to reveal the flowers.
Amelia gasped. “They’re beautiful. Such a vibrant color.” She rushed forward to bend over the blossoms. “My sister would have loved this.”
Kat, holding Poppy’s hand, crossed to her side. “Ma brought us here.” Awe rounded her words. “Do you remember, Zach?”
“I remember.” Though he’d been numerous times with Pa, he suddenly needed to sniff back tears.
Kat crouched by the flowers as if mesmerized. One finger extended to touch a stem, bobbing the flower. “Do you remember the story she told about them?”
Zach remained silent as Kat answered her own question.
“Ma said the flowers symbolized undying love. There was once a young lady who loved a young man. But war came, and the young man had to leave. She waited for him, praying every day for his safe return. It was not to be. He died in the fight. Only his body returned. Over his grave, she planted a tiger lily. Tenderly, she cared for it. It grew taller and more brilliant than any other. All because, she believed, of his love for her and hers for him.” Kat shuddered. Her hands clenched. “Better a live love than a dead one.” She backed away.
Amelia swiped at her eyes and glanced around. “Oh!”
He followed the direction of her look, but didn’t see anything but trees.
“Look.” She pointed. “Perfect cobwebs. Like intricate crocheting. And look. The sun is glistening on the moisture. Nature’s diamonds.”
They all turned to consider what she saw. Even Pa. Indeed, if Zach studied at a certain angle, he not only made out the cobwebs hidden in the shadows, as beautifully crafted as Amelia said, but he also saw the shining waterdrops.
Amelia’s soft laughter filled the air. “It goes to prove that all that glitters is not gold.”
“I’m going to look for other treasures.” Kat tromped through the tall grass.
“I come too.” Poppy struggled in her wake.
Pa scooped her up and called to Kat to wait for them.
Amelia moved to dry ground and sat to admire the tiger lilies.
Zach rested nearby watching her, concerned about the way her mouth worked. After waiting a few minutes, he spoke quietly. “Are you thinking of your sister?”
